.40 S&W

Shadowstalker · April 19, 2010, 11:25 AM

Well I shot my first reloads ever on Saturday and they all went bang, fed correctly, no overpressure signs and I still have all my fingers; but I have a few questions. This was the recipe (from Bullseye):
Once Fired Brass thoroughly cleaned
CCI small pistol primers
Bullseye Powder 4.9 - 5.6 gr in .1 increments (all measured w/ scale)
Oregon Trail 180g TC Bullets (The Silver Bullet Co)
All loaded to the longest OAL of 1.135 (I believe)

I shot a "Standard" group with Factory UMC 180g copper plated and some Federal 155'g Federal Hydroshocks; but I noticed alot more smoke with the Handloads, than the factory loads. Is this from the type of powder, primers, bullets, not going with a OAL of less than the maximum, or a combo of all above.

vladan · April 19, 2010, 12:16 PM

Bullets, bullet lube. When you shooting lead you always gonna have more smoke than jacketed bullets.

Doby45 · April 19, 2010, 02:27 PM

I have found that my 40cal lead TC bullets smoke like hell with Universal and Titegroup. I am trying some WST this weekend as I have heard it is a very good lead shooting powder, low smoke. I will let you know my results.

WESHOOT2 · April 20, 2010, 08:41 AM

1.135" OAL is an excellent length.
Bullseye, IME, should be held to under 5.0g using the 180g lead in the 40.

Suggest AA5/HS6/Silhouette burn-range in 40; Power Pistol optimum.

April 19, 2010, 11:25 AM	#1
Shadowstalker Member Join Date: April 2, 2010 Location: Tualatin, OR Posts: 30	.40 S&W Well I shot my first reloads ever on Saturday and they all went bang, fed correctly, no overpressure signs and I still have all my fingers; but I have a few questions. This was the recipe (from Bullseye): Once Fired Brass thoroughly cleaned CCI small pistol primers Bullseye Powder 4.9 - 5.6 gr in .1 increments (all measured w/ scale) Oregon Trail 180g TC Bullets (The Silver Bullet Co) All loaded to the longest OAL of 1.135 (I believe) I shot a "Standard" group with Factory UMC 180g copper plated and some Federal 155'g Federal Hydroshocks; but I noticed alot more smoke with the Handloads, than the factory loads. Is this from the type of powder, primers, bullets, not going with a OAL of less than the maximum, or a combo of all above.

April 19, 2010, 12:16 PM	#2
vladan Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 813	Bullets, bullet lube. When you shooting lead you always gonna have more smoke than jacketed bullets.

April 19, 2010, 02:27 PM	#3
Doby45 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Powder Springs, GA Posts: 213	I have found that my 40cal lead TC bullets smoke like hell with Universal and Titegroup. I am trying some WST this weekend as I have heard it is a very good lead shooting powder, low smoke. I will let you know my results.

April 20, 2010, 08:41 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	1.135" OAL is an excellent length. Bullseye, IME, should be held to under 5.0g using the 180g lead in the 40. Suggest AA5/HS6/Silhouette burn-range in 40; Power Pistol optimum.